About us Meet the team Food and Health Development Team Jo Howie - Food and Health Development Officer Jo is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and has worked at Edinburgh Community Food since February 2018. Jo currently supervises our dynamic Development Team and also manages the Eat Well for Oral Health project funded by the Scottish Government's Oral Health Challenge Fund. Eat Well for Oral Health is a community-based food skills and nutrition project to drive oral health improvements for all living in vulnerable circumstances and affected by socio-economic and race inequalities across Edinburgh and the Lothians Jo is also an experienced deliverer of the REHIS Elementary Food and Health, Eating Well for Older People and Elementary Food Hygiene courses. Jo also oversees the Edinburgh Community Cafe Network. E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0131 467 7326 Sema Jamali - Food and Health Development and Operations Officer Sema is an Associate Registered Nutritionist specialising in public health and early years nutrition. She has previously worked within the health sector, local and national governments, and has been with Edinburgh Community Food since May 2023. She runs our Healthy Little Foodies project, supporting families with young children with early years nutrition workshops on topics such as weaning and fussy eating as well as supporting the Social Enterprise team with health promotions at their NHS hospital stalls. Outside of work, Sema is kept on her toes by her two active young sons. E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0131 467 7326 Theodora Hidalgo - Food and Health Development Officer Theodora joined Edinburgh Community Food in October 2020 as one of the teams Food and Health Development Officers, delivering cooking groups and food health sessions. She passed her Diploma in Advanced Food Hygiene in December 2020 and delivers REHIS Elementary Food Hygiene courses throughout the year. Theodora can also be found running cooking groups in a variety of community venues in South East Edinburgh, Dumbiedykes and Oxgangs as part of the Out & About project seeking to reduce social isolation and promote healthier lifestyles. In her spare time she is an avid musician, and loves long country walks and is also a full-time cat lady! E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0131 467 7326 Louise Cairns - Food and Health Development Officer Louise is an Associate Registered Nutritionist and joined Edinburgh Community Food in October 2020. Louise works with The Willow Project where she provides nutritional support for women who have been involved in the criminal justice system. She is currently working on our 'Home from Hospital' food box delivery project and also coordinates the Growing to Love project in partnership with Veg Power UK. Louise delivers the REHIS Food & Health, Eating Well for Older People and Elementary Food Hygiene courses. In her spare time, Louise enjoys cooking, spending time in her garden and country walks and cycles. Email: [email protected] Phone: 0131 467 7326 Emma Hamill - Food and Health Development Officer Emma is an Associate Registered Nutritionist and joined Edinburgh Community Food in June 2022. She carried out her placement for university in 2020 with ECF and continued to volunteer throughout the rest of her degree. She is working with Jo on our Eat Well for Oral Health course and delivers the REHIS Food & Health, and Eating Well for Older People courses. Outside of work, Emma spends most of her time with family, reading or listening to Taylor Swift. Email: [email protected] Phone: 0131 467 7326 Chris Mantle - Senior Food and Health Development Officer Chris has volunteered with and then worked for Edinburgh Community Food since 2008. Having run cooking groups and training courses across the city for many years he now manages our dynamic Development team, writes funding applications and reports, and oversees the administration and delivery of our Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland courses: - Elementary Food Hygiene - Elementary Food and Health - Eating Well for Older People - Allergy Awareness - Elementary Food and Health for Carers of Adults with a Learning Disability Chris is also an approved HENRY trainer, delivering courses in the Lothians and Fife. Outside of work Chris is a musician, reads a lot and loves going camping on the west coast. E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 0131 467 7326